Start of Play

[tyneandrew]

So, its early summer the rivers dropped away but there are a good few fish in the river. Best chance is going to be in the first couple of hours. You have booked your day on a new beat on fishscotland and you arrive at the hut to meet the gillie at 9.00am as suggested on the website.

Once kitted up you venture down to the river to the best pool (and the only decent bit of fly water in low conditions) only to find the beat opposite has 2 rods on it whom having been flogging it since 7.00am and have caught 2 fish.

I know this has been a problem on the Tweed in the summer and has caused a few problems. What do people think about this and the best way for it to be prevented?

[exerod]

Get there earlier!
Only take double bank fishing or fish beats where there are reciprocal agreements with the opposition. On single bank beats with limited good water you are stuffed, you'd fish it first if you could wouldn't you?

Tight lines

Andy

[tyneandrew]

I suppose a little research will always be beneficial. One would hope that the 2 beats opposite each other would have an amicable relationship and have a system of fair play.

However, I don't think salmon fishing should be limited to 9-5 especially during April - September. Fishing untill sunset i imagine is fine but i can understand anglers getting frustrated to find the other bank is being fished from the crack of dawn.

Personally i really like fishing early but this is generally not available on the big rivers. Is it?

[Fruin]

If booking fishing during the summer, phone the ghillie or the owner to see about the possibility of fishing early and late. If they will not let you but are still charging a small fortune for the fishing, look elsewhere would be my advice.

[betanut]

It's one of the things about starting at 9am come the summer - it's not good for the angler and to be honest (where applicable) not for the Ghillie either.
It's always worth checking the rules and regulations with regard to start times with either the Ghillie (who should not feel obliged to be there at your side at 4am or first light!) or with the proprietor/letting agent.
I suppose it's why I've always prefered fishing smaller rivers or perhaps those less rigid in their time keeping than some other rivers and/or beats - a degree of flexibility is needed come the summer, some beats/rivers are far too regimented.
I don't see a simple solution unless reciprocal arrangements are made between two proprietors (or indeed anglers) on the left/right banks respectively with regard start times. It's also, I would imagine, far too complicated an issuefor the likes of online booking service to be concerned about - that would be a local issue, sir.

[tyneandrew]

Yes, i suppose it also depends on the exact circumstances on the day/week. If you are there for a week then after you have settled in and got used to the beat then starting an hour or two before 9 is fine usualy, Brian was more than happy for us to do this on Crathes although the early start proved fruitless and it was not until late morning we started to connect with a couple of fish.

Provided beats have plenty of room then some rods starting earlier in pre agreed spots is fine, leaving some untouched water for other rods for when they are ready to begin.